LAST NIGHT Federal Member for Forde, Bert van Manen held a ceremony to recognize nine successful applicants in the latest round of Local Sporting Champions Grants.
Mr van Manen was very impressed with the caliber of applicants in the latest round of grant applications and believes many are well on their way to become Australian sporting icons of the future.
“We need to ensure that young people who possess the talent, ambition and drive to succeed in sport as well as other areas receive the support they need to reach their goals,” said Mr van Manen.
In total, eight teenagers from the Forde electorate have been granted $500 each from the Australian Government towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms and equipment for both state and national sporting championships.
These include national netball competitor Maddison O’May, Figure skating champion Casey Test, wrestler Thomas Forde, softball champ Lauren Delforce Skating star Katrina Schneider, national handball champions David Woock and Christopher Duffy and rowing champions Daniel Trye and James Harcombe.
In addition, the Logan Thunder U14s girl’s premier league were also successful in receiving a team grant of $3,000.
In the past Bert has been involved with premiership teams in both cricket and soccer receiving a number of individual awards and represented Queensland at state as a schoolboy in soccer.
“I am an avid sportsman, and I enjoy soccer, cricket and golf”none of which I have enough time to play at the moment.”
“I now enjoy helping with the coaching of my sons’ soccer teams and watching them play,” he said.
“The grants will help parents with the significant costs associated with having their children participate in sport, at a time when the majority of families have tight budgets.”
(Photo caption: from left Maddison O’May, Chirstopher Duffy, Lauren Delforce, Casey Test, Bert van Manen MP and representing Logan Thunder U14s girl’s premier team, Maino Vao.)